Criminal Activity in Lisdogan Avenue

On Saturday, 19 January 2019, around midday I was walking back to our house in Lisdogan Avenue.  I walked to Loftus Park Shopping Centre and on the way back stopped at Eastwood Village.  I withdrew some cash, went into Postnet to get mail and then proceeded back home.  Less than a block from home an unidentified car stopped next to me.

There was the driver and a passenger.  The passenger did all the talking.  I thought they wanted to ask directions Not so.  He told me that there was a burglary at the Italian Embassy, 3 people killed, 2 injured and R 387 000 taken. This was money with blood on it.   He pointed in the wrong direction when he mentioned the Italian Embassy.  He said my clothing looks like that of one of the suspects and started asking me a lot of questions.   I told him he must be a policemen.  He immediately asked me how I knew that, and then showed me what looked like a police ID card.  I did not check it properly and assumed it was a valid ID card.

Some of the questions were: what is your name, where do you work, where were you, do you have cash on you, where did you draw money, do you have a withdrawal slip, how much did you draw and what is your withdrawal limit.

I answered all his questions and shortly after that they moved on.  I observed that the car did not have a number plate, and no sign that it was a police vehicle.  I only tried afterwards to remember what brand of car it was.  I think it was a VW Polo, the one with the “extended” boot.

There was no mention in the news media about any burglary at the Italian Embassy.  This morning my wife went to bible study at the Ooskerk next to Loftus, and told a lady about my experience.  The lady said she had exactly the same experience at the end of last year.

It seems to me that people are followed after they withdrew money, by the criminals in a car close by and/or by the “car-guards” (are they actually guarding anything?)

I guess we are all aware that these things happen, but this is now on our doorstep

Be aware! Say as little as possible if you are confronted, lie about the cash you have and your withdrawal limit.  Stay as far away from the suspicious car as possible, walk away with other pedestrians, if there are any.

If you went to the ATM by car, check if you are followed.

Take real care.

Carl Haupt